Millennial issues #346: “I feel a bit cheated with vaccination”

You definitely know you are living in times of a pandemic when you get overly excited about a shortened vaccination interval. It's just that I was in quarantine on Saturday, otherwise I would have rushed to the GGD.

Last week, the time between vaccinations decreased. Those who made an appointment suddenly only had to wait 21 days for a second shot of a vaccine instead of the prescribed 35 days. News that made my scientific heart leap, were it not that I was not actually up next. And there was my vaccination fomo again. 

First, I had vacci-fomo because the whole world was prioritized due to a medical indication, of which they were often not even aware. Then I had to wait another weekend because the AstraZeneca refusers suddenly got to go in between. Finally, I was ready as if I was going to order tickets for Beyoncé and the site crashed. And now? Now I have to patiently wait my turn, and as a millennial, I am of course very bad at that. We get all flustered if the oat milk in the capital is about to run out, so please don't blame us.

For a moment this weekend, it seemed like it was finally happening. A few clever folks realized that the GGD was diligently administering Pfizer surplus. Everyone with a yellow vaccination booklet within reach put on their masks and ran towards the nearest vaccination location for that last shot. Until all the millennials caught wind of it and the GGD quickly stopped the interim vaccinations. Millennials always know how to consume it all for themselves, yes.

Everywhere I try to get a little extra info online, it says: don't call us. The GGD cannot advance your appointment; you just have to wait your turn. And suddenly I feel like I'm back in kindergarten with Miss Andrina. Me waiting for my turn for a lollipop, but not being very good at it. Wanting to cut in line and getting caught, that sort of thing. Or my mother telling me that I really had to go to sleep because my birthday was tomorrow and otherwise I wouldn't get a present.

Maybe I should just do what my mother always said. Just nine more nights of sleep, then I can get it. Hooray for science. And thank god we can go so quickly, because that's not the case in some places around the world.

A girl laughing while holding a cup with a building in the background A few tips for when you have a fear of needles.